Stark scores winner as Hertha beat Mainz

Hertha Berlin 2-1 Mainz

Goals: 0-1 Stark (46’ o.g.), 1-1 Grujic (50’), 2-1 Stark (60’)

In the early stages of the match, both teams played it safe, not wanting to risk conceding early. Inside the first quarter of an hour, Mainz worked the ball well through the Hertha defence and Anthony Ujah got his head to a cross, only to see the ball sail just high and wide of the goal frame. Hertha had more possession and were better at winning the ball back when they did lose it, but could not find a way to break the visitors down. With a third of the match played, Karim Onisiwo looked certain to put Mainz in front when he met a cross whipped into the area. Unfortunately for him and his teammates, his header found only the crossbar and bounced over, leaving the hosts breathing a sigh of relief. The teams returned to the dressing room with the scores level and everything to play for in the second half.

Mainz wasted no time in changing the situation after the restart. Within the first minute, the 05ers worked the ball deep into Hertha territory where it fell to the feet of Levin Öztunali, whose shot was deflected into the net by Hertha defender Stark. The home side were galvanized by going behind and sought to respond immediately. Their pressure resulted in a corner, which they directed straight at Mainz keeper Müller, who could only parry it to the feet of Marko Grujic and the Berlin man made no mistake. Just before the hour mark, Valentin Lazaro did well to beat his marker and cut the ball back for Stark, who made amends for his earlier mistake and gave the hosts their first lead of the match. Mainz fought hard to find an equalizer of their own but could no better than find the post once again.

• The three points put Hertha back into the top half of the table on 35 points.
• Grujic enjoys playing at the Olympiastadion: All three of his Bundesliga goals this season have been scored at home.
• Stark’s goal for Hertha was his first in 34 matches.
• Both sides made only one change to their line-ups from last weekend. Both changes were enforced by suspensions.
• This was Mainz’s first defeat to Hertha in five meetings. They won the reverse fixture 2-0 thanks to a brace from Robin Quaison.
• Öztunali was responsible for more shots on goal (4) than any other Mainz player.

Hertha: Jarstein – Stark, Lustenberger, Torunarigha – Lazaro, Maier, Grujic, Mittelstädt – Duda (Baak 90'+3) – Selke (Ibisevic 67’), Kalou (c) (Leckie 77’)
Unused subs: Kraft, Klünter, Dilrosun, Dardai
Out: Darida (thigh), Kade (ankle), Köpke (knee), Luckassen (ankle), Plattenhardt (groin), Rekik (suspended), Pekarik (calf)
Coach: Pal Dardai

Mainz: Müller – Donati (Kunde 87’), Bell (c), Niakhate, Martin – Öztunali, Gbamin, Latza (Maxim 79’) – Quaison – Onisiwo (Mateta 66’), Ujah
Unused subs: Zentner, Brosinski, Bungert, Hack
Out: Adler (knee), Boetius (suspended), Holtmann (flu), Berggreen (hamstring), Bussmann (flu), Mwene (knee)
Coach: Sandro Schwarz